Emails Connecting Larry Summers to Jeffrey Epstein Deepen Harvard’s Reputation Crisis

Newly released emails show a closer relationship between economist Larry Summers and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than was previously public, triggering strong reactions across Harvard's campus and prompting the university to open a review.

Outrage and institutional response

Students and faculty have condemned Summers’ correspondence with Epstein, which continued until July 5, 2019 — the day before Epstein's arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges. Summers, 70, said he is "deeply ashamed" of continuing to communicate with Epstein, has withdrawn from several public commitments including a board position at OpenAI, and has taken a leave from teaching while Harvard reviews the matter.

Voices on campus

Undergraduate organizer Lola J. DeAscentiis said Summers’ decision to step back from teaching was "the very least that can happen" and is helping lead a petition calling for the revocation of his tenure. Faculty members also reacted strongly: a statistics professor described the correspondence as "disgusting and disgraceful," and others have called for accountability.

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.” — Larry Summers

What the emails reveal

The exchanged messages include discussions of politics and current affairs, and in some cases personal advice. In one thread, Summers sought Epstein’s help in pursuing a romantic interest he described as a mentee; Epstein offered to be a "pretty good wing man." In another message dated Oct. 27, 2017, Summers commented on intellectual differences between men and women.

Observers note the correspondence continued more than a decade after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Summers has not been accused of participating in Epstein’s criminal activities.

Context and controversy

The revelations revive earlier controversies surrounding Summers, including his 2005 remarks about possible differences in aptitude between men and women for science and engineering, which prompted an apology and a faculty vote of no confidence that contributed to his 2006 resignation as university president. He subsequently returned as a senior faculty member and retains one of the university’s highest academic ranks.

Harvard previously produced a review in 2020 documenting that the university received $9.1 million in gifts from Epstein between 1998 and 2008 and stating that no gifts were accepted after his 2008 conviction. Some faculty members now question whether that review fully disclosed the extent of individual relationships between Epstein and members of the university community.

Why this matters

Summers’ long-standing prominence as a former U.S. Treasury secretary, White House adviser and senior Harvard professor makes the revelations particularly damaging for the institution’s reputation. Tenure protections mean removing a professor requires action by Harvard’s highest governing body and typically rests on findings of "grave misconduct or neglect of duty."

As the university’s review proceeds, campus debate continues over how to weigh private communications exposed by released records and what institutional consequences, if any, are appropriate.

Key timeline: Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008; the released emails show correspondence between Summers and Epstein continued through July 2019; Epstein was arrested on federal charges the following day and died in custody in 2019.